FVN Chapter 396: Chapter XVI: The Cathedral
Chapter 396: Chapter XVI: The Cathedral
Chapter 396: Chapter XVI: The Cathedral
Give praise to the dreaded Rabbit of Caerbannog for he has ascended beyond the mines and unto the future. Drink deeply of the invigorating grey soup, and get back to work!
(General POV, a few hours earlier)
Corvinus privately thanked the gods as he was gently landed atop a roof overlooking the thin
wall once meant to guard the Temple District from miscreants, he nearly knelt to kiss the solid surface but managed to hold himself back.
Men were not meant for flying and that was that!
"A rather delightful sight, I have to admit." Lord Dagoth landed next to him with practiced ease "Though the marble paths really are just a tad too much."
"The Caro dynasty, current miscreants excluded, have been supporting the church of the Nine for centuries now." Corvinus explained as he had done hundreds of times by now "It is a show of devotion that our cathedral is one of the greatest in the Empire and beyond."
"Show of devotion, eh?" Reyvin quriks an eyebrow, his eyes patiently scanning the admittedly impressively large one tower cathedral in an approximation of the gothic style of architecture, the stained glass was arranged resplendently yet still remained tasteful "Rather easy to 'devote"" He airquotes "funds for such projects when they have been leeching funds off of most of Cyrodiil for entire eras at this point."
It takes the young priest a moment to process that and he blinks "Pardon?"
"The bridge." Reyvin points out nonchalantly "You are a priest of Zenithar, no? You should have an understanding of how draining for the economy it is to have maritime trade cut off in such a manner."
Corvinus was about to reflexively retort that the goods were repacked into river ships just on the other side of the city but he knew the hypocrisy of such a statement so merely chose to remain silent and nod.
"The bridge will have to go soon." Reyvin spoke after a short pause "Replaced with one that can be drawn up when needed preferably."
That he said this so casually quickly informed Corvinus of just how influential the young elf seemed to be with the imperial regime, that or he was a liar of such caliber he could twist the wildest fallacy into truth with nary a blink.
"We can discuss the economics later, we came here for a reason." The elf interrupts the Imperial's thoughts "The guards seem well equipped for a simple city posting, too well equipped I would wager."
Steel plate and patrols of ten marching through the district at both regular and odd intervals.
"They are preparing for something." Corvinus noted.
"Mhm." Reyvin nodded with a hum "Either some big ritual or a trap."
"A trap, my lord?" The priest looked at him.
"The particular Daedra whose presence I am feeling within is an enemy of mine." The outrageous statement was declared with the ease of someone talking of the weather "I would not put it above her to orchestrate this whole thing simply to draw me in."
Corvinus couldn't help but direct a deadpan stare at the elf, the sheer arrogance of calling a Daedra his enemy as if one would name a mortal was galling to say the least.
"Am I really that arrogant?" Reyvin asked as if he had read the priest's mind "Or is Meridia really that petty? Who knows?"
Corvinus wisely chose not to retort, and focused on remembering whatever he could of the self proclaimed cleansing light.
"Hmmm" Lord Dagoth paused as his gaze swept the cathedral once more, no doubt seeing far more than Corvinus ever could. The elf nodded to himself and looked back to the priest, an odd smirk on his face "Want to hear the good news or the bad news first?"
That did not sound encouraging, Corvinus noted with a silent gulp "The bad?"
"It would seem that we are dealing with more than one Daedra." Reyvin told him matter of factly.
The priest's mind was nearly overtaken by terror at this reveal but the fact that a good part of the news existed kept him back from outright panicking "A-and the good news, my lord?"
Reyvin's smirk immediately split his face as he grinned widely and hungrily, ritualistically elongated canines glinting in the setting sun, grey wisps of something licking the edges of his robes and armor "We are dealing with more than one Daedra."
"Ah, I see." Feeling a veritable river of sweat suddenly pool down his neck, Corvinus almost regretted volunteering for his holy mission.
(Reyvin's POV)
Shaking my head at the poor man I focus back on the cathedral, I fully expected Meridia to seek some help but to get over her hatred of Molag long enough to propose an alliance is rather pragmatic of the bitch.
Seeing as I've already wasted enough time I began walking to the edge of the roof, only to pause as Corvinus lightly grabbed my shoulder "What?"
"I know of a secret entrance." He said, his eyes trailing to a side building attached to the cathedral "There is no need to alert the guards on our way in?"
"Want to spare the poor cunts?" I raise an eyebrow and he instantly nods, part of me wanted to call him out for his idiotic pacifism, having already seen him try and stop me from killing the same guardswoman who tried killing him back at the tavern.
The other and much larger part did not want to bother educating some random idiot I'd probably forget in a week or so, a wisdom I would follow.
"They are only following orders." He said simply.
"They are willfully following idiotic orders." I correct with a raised finger "But sure, it isn't like I am baying for their blood or something."
His shoulders sag as he relaxes.
'They aren't worth the finger snap anyway.' I shrug and levitate the two of us onto the ground within the walls.
Seeing me boldly walk forward, Corvinus panics for a moment but as an entire unit of guards pass us by without any of them noticing us he gives me another odd look before beckoning me
to the side building.
He pulls out an almost comically large key and unlocks the way in with a loud clack, revealing what looked to be a woodworking and painter's workshop filled with half-finished icons and amulets, all of it organized so meticulously I couldn't help but nod in appreciation.
Corvinus' eyes brighten as he quickly finds whatever it was he was looking for, picking up what looked to be a simple smith's hammer if not for the obvious Aedric blessing placed upon it, a rather old one at that.
"I am no warrior" He looks to me solemnly "But a tool of the craft will aid us well in the
domain of my Lord."
"That your hammer?" I raise an eyebrow.
He nods, a light smile on his face "Indeed, it has been with me ever since I swore my vows."
I just hum along.
"That is enough dallying." He says more to himself than to me "Follow me."
and the might of a god slayer holding the tide back from devouring both the guilty and the innocent.
Lord Dagoth rose high his single edged blade and called "Auri-El!" A wave of fire as bright as
the sun itself blasting forth from him and into the portals, scorching all that awaited beyond. The invaders paused for but a dozen seconds, more than long enough for a rejuvenating wind
to enter the cathedral, filling it with scents of the forest and meadow as I felt my bruises knit together and the fire in my heart be reignited.
But even as we were rejuvenated and a new wave of demon filth fell upon us, I could see Lord Dagoth slowing down, his attacks missing their alignment every so often and the frequency of his spells fizzing out just a second faster than before increasing with each minute passing.
I wished to rush forth and help this hero but I felt a familiar gaze fall upon my back, and it bid
me wait for it held wisdom greater than my own.
A fresh surge of power came from the portal, making me stumble back and almost fall if not for the divine invigoration surging within my soul, and a massive figure walked out. My eyes itched as I beheld the abomination, a large reptilian creature I knew as a Daedroth of
the darker Daedra, but clad in the resplendent plate of Meridia, an image which was further marred by formless tentacles which changed position near constantly making me genuinely regret looking at the thing.
The savior of our city, who looked to be beleaguered but a moment prior, straightened his
back and leaned upon the swordstaff with which he had slain a slew of demons, a loud scoff came from his crown-masked head as he demanded "Is this all you fools could offer? After all that effort to slow me down?"
But the Daedra cared not for what they believed to be his platitudes, and the creature surged forward, its charge swiftly stopped by the one known as Akulakhan as Lord Dagoth immediately rammed his glaive into the creature's head, the powerful weapon passing through the armor as if it were not there in the first place and carving a rightful gouge into the
vile thing.
A whistling noise filled the air as the remaining lesser Dremora began to fall while clutching
at their throats, a blur of grey silver passing through their formation and cutting them down like a scythe taken to wheat, soon leaving only the Daedroth as its target. The beast attempted to trash around and resist its inevitable end but the moment it stepped
onto Nirn its cursed existence was fated to the torment it deserved, as each second cut off another chunk of its vile flesh, and each moment saw it howling in greater agony.
It took but a dozen moments for it to fall upon the marble floor of the blessed cathedral,
silent and unmoving.
"No!" A loud snarl came from the darker side of the portal "I refuse to accept this insolence any
longer!" "Stop you fool, you will ruin everything!" A feminine voice came from the lighter side, sounding almost panicked as it demanded once more "Stop!"
But the dark one would not listen, for he stood from his throne which now suddenly stood
before the portal itself, and plunged his hand forth to grasp the elf who defied him again and
again, the pressure in the air growing to the point I could no longer breathe and could but hope that a miracle would occur.
Lord Dagoth scoffed and calmly took a sideways stance, his blade positioned vertically next to
his chest as he stared down one of the avatars of all that was vile and unholy. A grey flame
surged upon his sword, and its power was akin to the gaze I felt upon my beleaguered back, making me squint in confusion and awe.
The hand of the monstrosity left the portal and I felt my breath leave me as my soul attempted to escape my body, only the gentle light of the craftsman saving me from an instantaneous death. But Lord Dagoth was no coward as I was, and he swung his sword akin to a one handed flick, releasing the power he had built up and making me think I was dreaming for a moment, for I
saw him let loose a wave of grey tinged flame and cleave the hand of the Daedra in twain and heard the scream of the heart of evil as it recoiled.
The other devil, disguised in a blinding light to hide its vileness, cursed at its ally of convenience but all it did was speed up the creature's retreat, leaving the portal half powered and unable to remain open for much longer.
Before the portal closed I saw the bane of false gods raise his empty gauntleted hand towards
the demon... and present to it his middle finger.
The demon's shrieks of outrage brought a smile to my face, and then I knew no more.
(Reyvin's POV)
"Fucking bitch." I spit on the ground and quickly move to Corvinus, casting a few diagnostic
spells on his unconscious self I nodded in relief as I realized he was alive "Guess you
earned some babysitting kid."
I looked up to the still glowing altar and inclined my head "Thanks for the help, probably
could have done it myself but I get to keep some subtlety this way."
The stern yet approving look of Zenithar was momentarily tinged with appreciation before I
felt a divine equivalent of a head shake and a spark of flame jumped from the anvil and onto
my palm, the offer of a blessing rather obvious.
Bowing a bit more sincerely this time I grasp the ember and crush it in my grip, feeling a surge
of inspiration enter my mind but filing it down for later as I had more immediate things to worry over. My eyes scanned the near-ruined cathedral, at least on the inside, and I quickly realized that Marius, the little bastard, was missing "So much for 'reaching the heavens as one' fucking hypocrite." I scoff and lean my sword on my shoulder, spending all of three seconds on divining his location "Oh well, you can run but you can't hide~"
Gods and demons
naught but stones for the mine
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